The Yreka Miners varsity baseball team cruised to a 11-1 victory in five innings over the Anderson Cubs at Hibbard Field on Thursday.

The game was the Northern Athletic League opener for both teams.

"It was a good way to start league," head coach Jason Freitas said.

The Miners struck out only once in the game as the Miners bats were out in force on Thursday.

Anderson came into the contest on a bit of a hot streak, having won the Marble Mountain Tournament in Scott Valley last weekend and finished the tourney 4-0. Yreka came in fourth at the event and finished 2-2. Heading into Thursday's game, Yreka had their share of struggles to get things going this year. Freitas has stated that he believed his team could turn things around in league. Thursday's game was a step in the right direction for the Miners. Yreka improved to 4-5-1 overall and 1-0 in the NAL while Anderson fell to 6-5 overall and 0-1 in league.

Yreka is the defending NAL champs and made it to the Northern Section Division 2 title game last year.

The Cubs started the game off by scoring a run. That lone run turned out to be the only points Anderson would put on the scoreboard on Thursday.

The Miner's bats, which have been inconsistent this season, came alive as Yreka scored three runs the bottom of the first. The Miners scored a run in the second and went off for five runs in the fourth inning.

"It was great to see," Frietas said about his team hitting the ball well in the league opener. "We got a lot of good at bats."

Page 2 of 2 - The game ended after five innings due to the mercy rule. Yreka scored the 11th and final run with two outs on a passed ball with the bases loaded. Freitas was pleased with the way the Miners were able to hit the ball so well against the Cubs top pitcher, Charles Edwards, who pitched well at the Marble Mountain Tournament last weekend.

Miner senior Cody Hoff had a strong game on the mound for Yreka on Thursday and finished with seven strikeouts, while giving up only three hits and a run in a complete game performance.

Michael Schuler went 3-for-4 with a run and three RBI's. Cade Parker had three runs, while Christian Charles had two runs. Evan Bosinger finished with two sacrifice flys.

The Miners and the Cubs meet again today in Anderson for a doubleheader, with the first game getting underway at 4 p.m.

While the Miners won handily on Thursday, it should be a challenge to earn two wins against a good team like Anderson on the road, Freitas said.